Eudolph hobmann



(No Model.)-

B. HORMANN.

BUTTON FORMING MACHINE.

No. 380,722. Patented Apr 10,1888.

v E I um L llvogmphcr. Washington. D. c.

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

RUDOLPH HORMANN, OF HOBOKEN, NEW JERSEY.

BUTTON-FORMING MACHINE.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 380,722, dated-April 10, 1888.

Application filed January 19, 1887. Serial No.224,625. (No model.)

To all whom it may concern.-

Be it known that I, RUDOLPH HoRMANN, residing in the city of Hoboken, State of New Jersey, have invented a new and useful Improvement in Button-Forming Machines, of which the following is a full, true, and exact description, reference being had to the accompanying drawings.

My invention relates to improvements upon machines in some respects similar to that patented to O. A. Pfenning on the 5th day of October, 1886, No. 850,211, and the especial point in my present improvement is that by means of it I am able to form upon one machine buttons of different diameters.

The sizes usually employed in making this class of buttons are-what are known as twenty-two, thirty, and thirtysix line buttons, and I have shown mymachine as applicable to making those buttons; but of course buttons of any other size can be made upon it by properly arranging the machine.

I have so arranged my machine as that different dies for forming the buttons are substituted for other dies and supported in the machine by the same mechanism,which performs double functions in that machine; but this structure is not essential, but convenient.

I shall not describe the Pfenning machine in full, but shall refer to that patent for a fuller description thereof.

My apparatus will be readily understood from the accompanying drawings, in which- Figure 1 represents an external elevation of my machine; Fig. 2, a cross-section through the same, showing the machine as arranged for forming athirty-six-line button; Fig. 3,a crosssection of the same machine, showing it arranged to make a thirty-line button; Fig. 4., a view of the top die fora thirty-six-line button; Fig. 5, a view of the same die for a thirty-line button; Fig. 6, a view of the same die for a twenty-two-line button; Fig. 7, a plan view of the top of the movable sleeve, and also die for making a thirty-line button, as shown in Fig. 3; Fig. 8, the same view of the machine arranged to make a twenty-two line button; Fig. 9, the removable sleeve for a twenty-two-line button shown in plan in Fig. 8; Fig. 10, the stationary ejector adapted to fit inside of the movable sleeve shown in Fig. 9; Fig. 11, a plan View of the upper end of the sleeve shown in ever, the dies are separable therefrom.

Fig. 9; Fig. 12, a bottom view of the stationary ejector shown in Fig. 10; Fig. 13, a view of the part of the slot inthe sliding sleeve of the machine, the rest of the slot being shown in Fig. 1; Fig. 14, a bottom view of the movable die adapted to make a thirty-line button, shown in position in the top of the apparatus. Fig. 15 represents an external View of the sleeve shown in Figs. 3 and 7, showing the slot more in detail.

In my drawings similar letters refer to similar parts.

My machine, like the Pfenning machine, consists, generally, of a base, B, supporting an ejector, a vertically-sliding sleeve, A, carrying the cap of a pivoted cap, H, adapted to be closed upon the sliding sleeve, and also the button forming or eyeleting screw K.

' In the Pfenning devicethebutton-surrounding cylinder is integral with the vertically sliding sleeve, and the opposite die is integral With the closing-cap. In my machine, how- In this contrivance the upper dies are marked F F F. Their general form is shown in section in Figs. 2 and 3. Through the interior of these substantially circular dies are out screwthreads J, which correspond to the screw K passing through the movable cap. These upper dies, F F F, are provided with one or more lugs L. In the drawings four are shown, which is the form that I prefer. These are arranged to drop into corresponding sockets in the movable cap, as shown in Fig. 14, which prevents their revolution with the retainingscrew. They are retained in the cap by with drawing the screw K until they all fit snugly within the chamber in the cap H, and then screwing down the screw K, which will then retain them in position and prevent their dropping out. By again withdrawing the screw K, as before described, another die of a different size can be readily substituted. The corresponding lower die consists, when the machine is arranged to form the largest size button, of the external sliding sleeve, A, and an inner removable stationary ejector, D. This ej ector sleeve D rests upon the central post, 0, integral with the base B of the machine, and is held thereon by the set-screw M, which performs the additional function of enabling the sliding sleeve to be raised and lowered by KOO ' means of a spiral slot which engages with said set-screw M. In this form of machine the spiral slot N is closed at both ends, in which respect it differs from the slot shown in the Pfenning patent. I prefer this arrangement, as it prevents the separation of the sliding sleeve from the base of the machine. They can be readily taken apart, of course, by unscrewing the set-screw M.

Now, if it is desired to change the machine so that it will form a thirty-line button, instead of athirty-six-line button, the procedure is as follows: The screw K is unscrewed and the upper die, F, is substituted for the die F. The set-screw M is removed and the removable ejector D is likewise removed, and theej ector D and removable vertically-sliding sleeve R substituted therefor. The vertically-sliding sleeve A is provided with a slot, G, for receiving the lug G, attached to the removable Vertically-moving sleeve R, which prevents its revolution within the external sleeve, A.- This sleeve R is likewise provided with a spiral slot corresponding in configuration to the spiral slot cut through the external sleeve, A, so that in operation the sleeve R moves, together with the sleeve A, upon the set-screw M. whereas the inner ejector, not being provided with a spiral slot, IL, but with a simple opening, E, for the passage of the screw, does not move, but remains stationary upon the base of the machine, and serves the purpose of ejecting the button,presently to be explained. I preferably provide these ejectors D, D, and D with lugs at their bottom, which drop into corresponding holes in the base of the machine around the central post, G, and aid the set-screw M in preventing the revolution of these ejectors around the said central post, 0. Instead, however, of having the central post cylindrical and the lugs on the bottom of the ejectors to prevent the revolution, I may, if I prefer, make the central piece square with a corresponding opening in the ejector-blocks. Of course in both cases the external surfaces of the ejector-blocks must be cylindrical. In order now to arrange the machine to form a twenty two-line button, the proceeding is the same as for arranging it to form a thirty-line button. The upper die, F, is removed, as before, and the die 1? substituted. The set-screw M is removed, and the sleeve R and ejector D are likewise removed. Then the ejector D is placed in position around the post 0, and the vertically-moving sleeve R is dropped into position, so that its lug G enters a suitable cavity, G, provided in the external sleeve of the machine. The set-screw M being then placed in position, the machine is again ready for operation.

It will be observed that in this machine the button-forming chamberis cylindrical, though I do not limit myself to this form, and I may, if I prefer, employ an upper chamber somewhat less in diameter than the chamber within the removable sleeve. The back of the button is intended to be held in the chamber within the cap and should be centrally supported therein.

' The operation of my machine is similar to that of the Pfenning machine,excepting that I have no inwardly-projecting rim in the upper cap, and therefore, in this respect, the operation is different. I find that the operation of closing the machine is sufficient to insure the correct formation of the button with the cloth tightly stretched, without any inwardly-projecting bevel or other rim in the upper die.

The eyeleting -plunger P, carried on the screw K, centralizes the back of the button. It is obvious that this plunger can be forced downward by a mechanism other than asorew-j thread, though I prefer that form. It is obvious,likewise,that mechanism other than that which I have described can be used to force the longitudinally-moving sleeve past the cylindrical ejector. It is obvious, likewise, that the central forming-cylinders, D D Dithough performing the double function of aiding in the formation of a button and in subsequently ejecting the button, are not necessarily used for both functions, for the central plunger need not be raised after the button is formed for the purpose of ejecting the button, but may be used simply as a former. In this case the spiral slot need not be employed; but it is obvious that in machines of this kind it is important to have variable button-forming surfaces which can be substituted one for the other and supported upon a central support. It is plain,likewise,that the vertically-adjustable eyeleting plunger is not essential, excepting for the formation of that kind of button for which it is especially applicable.

Theessential and important partof my present invention is to have a hand button-machine in which by the ready substitution of top and bottom buttonforming pieces buttons of different sizes can be made.

\Vhat I claim as my invention, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is-

1. The combination,in a button-forming machine, of a central removable cylindrical ejector and a supporttherefor, a cylindrical sleeve sur rounding this ejector and adapted to be moved longitudinally past the same, and a cap carried on the top of the movable sleeve and sup porting a removable die provided with a central opening through which an eyeletingplunger is forced by suitable mechanism, substantially as described.

2. The combination,inabutton-formingmachine, of a suitably-supported central post, a removable ejector -plunger surrounding the same, a removable adj usting-sleeve connected with an externallongitudinally-movingsleeve, a longitudinally-movingsleeve and mechanism for moving it longitudinally past the central ejector, a cap closing the top of said longitudinally-moving sleeve, a die containing a cylindrical chamber supported in said cap, and an eyeleting-plunger and mechanism for forcing the same through the cap, substantially as described.

3. In a button-forming machine, abase provided with apost,in combination with a removable ej ector supported thereby, and an exterior moving sleeve whereby buttons of varying size may be produced, substantially as described.

4. In a button-forming machine, the combination, with a base provided with a central post adapted to receive, removable ejectors D D, of different sizes, of a cap, H, adapted to receive alterable dies F F, of different sizes and having central openings, and a longitudinally-moving eyeleting-plunger, substantially as described.

5. In a button-forming machine, the combination, with a base provided with a central post adapted to receive removable ejectors D D, of different diameters, of a cap, H, adapted to receive alterable dies FF, to coact with said ejectors, an eyeleting mechanism passing centrally through said dies, and an exterior intermediatelongitudinally-moving sleeve carrying said cap and adapted to separate and bring together the dies and plungers, substantially as described.

6. In a buttonforming machine, the combination, with a base provided with a post adapted to support button-forming blocks of different sizes, of a movable cap adapted to receive alterable dies of differentsizes for forming the back of the button, and mechanism for bringing the cap and dies down upon the button in the process of formation, substantially as described.

7. In abuttoirforming machine, the combination, with a base and a central post extend- ,3 5 ing therefrom, of a removable button-forming block having a button-forming chamber, the said block being supported upon said central post, substantially as described.

8. In a button-forming machine, the combination of a base adapted to support alterable button-forming blocks, alterable button-block, as D, acylinder, as R, corresponding to said block, a cap adapted to receive alterable button-forming dies, alterable die, as F, corresponding to the diameter of the block, and mechanism for closing the cap upon the base when the button is to be formed, substantially as described.

9. In a button-forming machine, the combination, with a base and a central post supported therein, ofa removable button-forming block or thim'ble having a button forming chamber, the said block or thimble surrounding said central post, substantially as described.

In testimony whereof I have signed my name to this specification in the presence of two subscribing witnesses.

RUDOLPH HoRMANN.

\Vitnesses:

ANTHONY GREF, WM. A. POLLOGK. 

